Music Wars: Scene 18
in whch one Nation of the Empire record company says Take Me Down

It seems like one record company, Universal Music Group, has decided to lower prices in order to entice people away from downloading

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Universal Music Group, the world's largest record company, on Wednesday said it will cut list prices on compact discs by as much as 30 percent in an effort to boost sales that have been stymied by free online music-sharing services such as Kazaa.

snip...

"We expect this will invigorate the music market in North America," said Doug Morris, the label's chief executive. "This will allow retailers (to sell) for $10 or less if they so choose."

The price cut comes as the company has endured the enormous popularity of free music sharing services, which the labels blame for music piracy.

Universal, which is owned by Vivendi Universal, sees the price cuts as part of a larger strategy to discourage people from downloading music from the free services.

Hmmm... new release CD's for $9.99? that actually sounds like a pretty good deal. Hopefully the other major labes (Sony, EMI, Time/Warner/AOL) will follow suit. Seems like at least one record label has realized that they were indeed overcharging the consumer for their product, and have been for years, until people realized they could get it for free, albiet not legitimate (but that's one hell of a price adjustment). Myself would buy a new release CD for $9.99, if it were from an artist that I like. Good move by UMG [gives golf applause]. Waiting on the RIAA to play out its war to resolve this problem is a lose-lose proposition for record companies and the consumer, THe labels continue to lose money, and consumers become alienated by having the DeathStar spectre of a lawsuit/subpeona/fines orbiting their head.

See what happens...

So there's a hurricane passing about 340 miles south of the Big Island of Hawaii, a small craft and high surf advisory posted by the Weather Service, what better conditions to the annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim?

Hundreds of swimmers were rescued yesterday when powerful currents got the best of most of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim participants.

Of the 1,055 swimmers who started the annual 2.4-mile race about 9 a.m., only 356, including two men in the over-70 age group, finished the race. The rest either turned back, were helped back to shore by fellow swimmers or were rescued. Coast Guard, city lifeguards or fire personnel reported saving at least 267.

This is what happens when an event promoter puts his pocketbook above people's safety. Dumb, stupid asshat. Myself likes this quote from the race director: "the current was very strong and unexpected and had a negative impact on most of the swimmers." Fortunately the swimmers who even attempt this are all strong swimmers to begin with, but this guy is lucky no one drowned.